Target launching mechanism



April 19, 1966 L. R. CLEVELAND TARGET LAUNCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 25, 1962 w A 0L E NV f we R E E L AT RNEY United States Patent 3,246,642 TARGET LAUNCHING MECHANISM Lee R. Cleveland, 380 Redington Ave., Troy, Pa. Filed Sept. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 226,026

7 Claims. (Cl. 124-8) The present invention relates to an animated target and launching means therefor, and more particularly a target mechanism for training and competition in marksmanship, in which the target, when launched, simulates the elusive action of small game such as a rabbit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an animated target device inwhich the target is in the form of a frangible disk which is so launched as to roll and bound along the ground of the target area. t 7

It is another object to provide such a device in which the launching mechanism spins the target on its axis during the launching operation, up to a peripherial speed .at least substantially equal to its translatory velocity at the time of ejection.

It is another. object to provide such a device in-which the target disk is formed with a weighted rim and a corn} paratively thin web portion connecting the rim to acentral hub.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the target is partially divided into arcuate segments whereby when struck by a bullet or other missile while in motion, it shatters in a quasi-explosive manner.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of applicants novel launching mechanism with a target shown in cocked position ready for launching;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same with a part of the target guiding channel broken away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a face view of one preferred form of target; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a fiat base 1 in the form of a spider having diverging arms 2, 3 and 4. An arcuate channel-shaped guide member or track 5 is mounted rigidly in any suitable manner as by welding on the ends of the arms 3 and 4 of the base 1. An upright post 6 (FIG. 2) is fixedly mounted or formed on the inner end of the arm 3 of the base and has a cross bar 7 rigidly mounted thereon.

Journal bearing 8 is formed on one end of the cross bar 7, and an actuating arm 9 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end as by means of a stub shaft 10 rotatably mounted in the bearing 8 and rigidly connected in any suitable manner to the actuating arm 9. The arm 9 is drawn up against the lower end of the journal bearing 8 by means of a spring 11 which is adjustably compressed by a nut 12 threaded on the stub shaft and seated on the upper end of the journal bearing 8, a thrust washer 13 being preferably interposed. The journal bearing 8 is located at the center of the circle of which the guide channel 5 forms an arc, and the actuating arm 9 extends radially from said bearing to a point adjacent the inner boundary of said guide channel. A gudgeon 14 is mounted on the end of the actuating arm 9 in position to extend over the guide channel. Preferably this gudgeon is swiveled on the end of the arm 9 as indicated at 15.

Means are provided for yieldably pressing the gudgeon 14 down toward the bottom of the guide channel 5. As best shown in FIG. 2, this is here accomplished by forming said arm with an intermediate section 16 of flat steel spring material which is so contoured as to provide the desired downward pressure of the gudgeon 14.

3,246,642 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 A pin 17 is mounted rigidly on the inner end of the actuating arm 9, extending downwardly therefrom and a tension spring 18 is hooked at one end to the pin 17 and at its other end to an eye-bolt 19 adjustably mounted in an abutment 20 extending downwardly from the opposite end of the cross bar 7.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the spring is so positioned with respect to the pin 17 and the pivotal mounting 8, 10 of the actuating arm 9 that the tension of the spring causes said arm to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in said figure.

Means for holding the actuating arm 9 in its cocked position with the spring 18 under full tension is provided comprising a latch. member 21 pivoted as shown at 22 on a lug 23 extending upwardly from the cross bar 7 and having a downwardly extending projection 24 in position to engage the actuating arm 9 and hold it immobile until the latch is released manually by means such as a rope '25. "A spring 26 normally holds the latch in operative position.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the target consists 'of a disk 27 of suitable frangible material such as baked ,clay,;-havinga central opening 28 in its hub 29 adapted to loosely receive the gudgeon 14 on the actuating arm 9. Preferably the target is formed with a Weighted rim 30 which is connected to the hub 29 by a comparatively thin web 31, and the target is divided into a plurality of arcuate segments by means of radial slots 32. Usually the peripheral surface of the target is arranged to have line contact with the bottom of the guide channel, the contacting surfaces being roughened or knurled if deemed desirable.

In operation, the actuating arm 9 is drawn into its cocked position as illustrated either manually or by any suitable arming means where it is retained by the latch 21. A target 27 is then mounted on the gudgeon 14- where it is positioned to roll on the bottom of the guide channel 5, this operation being permitted by the spring section 16 of the actuating arm which then presses the target down firmly against the bottom of the channel guide.

When the latch 21 is raised by the operator, the spring 13 then swings the actuating arm 9 causing the target to traverse the guide channel 5 until it is ejected from the end of the guide. During this launching action, since the target is caused to roll on the bottom of the guide channel, the target will be spun up to a rotational velocity approximately equal to its translatory speed at the point of injection. Consequently, the contact of the target with the ground after ejection does not tend to retard the movement of the target which therefore rolls and bounds in a life-like manner, particularly if the target area is somewhat rough.

The depth of the guide channel is preferably made adjustable in order to facilitate the use of targets of different sizes. As shown in FIG. 2 this is accomplished by inserting one or more arcuate track members 33 in said channel.

Although certain structure has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. In an animated target mechanism, in combination with a target in the form of a circular disk,

means for launching the target upright in a predetermined horizontal direction, to roll forwardly along a target area, said launching means including means for imparting a bodily translatory movement to the target, and

means for causing said translatory movement to impart a concurrent forward rotation of the target on its axis with a peripheral velocity at least substantially equal to its translatory velocity; said launching means including a track for the target,

and means for rolling the target forwardly along the track While pressing the target firmly on said track; said track being in the form of a trough freely receiving and guiding the target, and having a bottom conforming to the periphery of the target; the depth of the guiding trough being adjustable for the reception of target disks of various sizes. 2. In an animated target mechanism, a target disk havmg a central opening, and launching mechanism therefor including an arcuate channel member adapted to loosely receive and guide the target disk, a radial actuating arm pivotally mounted at the center of said arc, having a terminal gudgeon loosely traversing the opening in the target when the target is in said guide channel, and means for swinging said arm to propel the target along the channel and eject it therefrom at the end of the channel. 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 including means for firmly pressing the target disk on the bottom of the guide channel as the target traverses said channel.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 including means for adjusting the depth of the guide channel.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the actuating arm is vertically elastic and biased to urge said gudgeon down toward the bottom of the guide channel.

6, A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said gudgeon is swiveled on the end of the actuating arm.

7. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the means for swinging the actuating arm includes a spring urging said arm in the direction to eject the target disk from the guide channel,

a latch holding said arm in cocked position, and

manually operable means for releasing said latch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 934,093 9/1909 North 124-43 1,206,416 11/1916 Cosby 124-8 1,602,471 10/1926 Winans 124-8 2,056,446 10/1936 Dodge 12421 I 2,148,063 2/1939 Evans 273105.4 2,653,026 9/1953 Feltus 273105.4 2,944,282 7/1960 Greco 16-87 2,974,956 3/1961 Zuber 273129 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner,

R, BROWNE, Assistant Examiner, 

2. IN AN ANIMATED TARGET MECHANISM, A TARGET DISK HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, AND LAUNCHING MECHANISM THEREFOR INCLUDING AN ARCUATE CHANNEL MEMBER ADAPTED TO LOOSELY RECEIVE AND GUIDE THE TARGET DISK, A RADIAL ACTUATING ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THE CENTER OF SAID ARC, HAVING A TERMINAL GUDGEON LOOSELY TRAVERSING THE OPENING IN THE TARGET WHEN THE TARGET IS IN SAID GUIDE CHANNEL, AND MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID ARM TO PROPEL THE TARGET ALONG THE CHANNEL AND EJECT IT THEREFROM AT THE END OF THE CHANNEL. 